It was almost dark.
　Amu had left Seika and returned to the girls' dormitory with Yifa.
　He spoke to Yifa who was walking next to him in the corridor.

'But you're well taken care of, too.
What?
The Seika.

　Amu says.

'He was pretty worried about you, huh?　I thought you might be in danger.
"...that's right. I'm sorry about that.
I was surprised when he said he was going to set you free when you came of age, but...

　Slavery, in the Empire, is property.
　To set a slave free is tantamount to losing money as it is.

　There is no limit to the price of a slave.
　An adult male with an ox, it is said, but a doctor, a teacher, a skilled human being such as a sorcerer, or a beautiful boy or girl will be traded for a blue sky.
　Yifa is still young and female, but she's good looking and wise and has a special magical talent.

'Speaking of which, are you a virgin?'
Yeah, yeah, but...

　Then it would be even more expensive.
　At least, Amu could imagine that it wouldn't be enough for an amount of money like a cow or two.

　Flickering a release is a common trick for masters to make their slaves work obediently.
　But Amu couldn't believe that Seika's words at that time were just a hoax.

I thought slaves were supposed to be more frightened or dead-eyed. But then again, there are people like you two, who trust each other. There's a lot of trust in each other.
Um... yeah.

　Yifa nodded hesitantly and then smiled in annoyance.

'Yes, I think they take good care of me. But I don't know if they trust me..... I don't really know.

　Amu found that answer a little surprising.
　It was because he didn't think there was anything in their relationship from Amu's point of view that would make him hesitate to trust.

''Hmm...?　If it's something you've been hiding, it's not that bad, is it?
I think that Seika-kun is probably the one hiding something.
I don't know why. I'm sure you've heard of it. I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this in the library of the mansion. What do the Lamprog Counts have in their library?
Well I've never been in a stacks before, so...

　Yifa falters.
　Seeing the situation, Amu asks fearfully.

''Could it be........that you're not good at Seika?

　Yifa looked surprised, then shook her head in a hurry.

''No, it's not!　I mean, I, I like Seika-kun, but........
Yeah, I know.
But that's why I was wondering if that's why you should tell me more things...
Mmm-hmm.

　Amu decided not to ask any more questions.

　There are many things that happen between people.

　Even the ideal adventurer's party, from the outside, often breaks up due to circumstances known only to the people in question.
　The only way for people to come to terms with the circumstances between them is for them to come to terms with each other.

　That's what Amu had felt in his short experience as an adventurer.

''Well, okay. So, what's the use?　That money.
What?
'You can't tell Seika this, can you?　You've been quiet the whole time. If you can't tell me either, I won't force you to ask.
''Oh, no. It's not like I couldn't tell Seika-kun about it, but...

　Yifa puts her mouth to Amu's ear.

'Actually...'